Jan. 3, 2009

In the middle of the No. 11/8 Stanford women's basketball team's Pac-10-opening road trip through Arizona, sophomore forward Kayla Pedersen, a native of Fountain Hills, Ariz., took some time in Tucson to sit down with Gostanford.com for a one-on-one session.

Gostanford.com: Kayla, this is your second trip back to your home state since joining Stanford. How is it being able to play in front of familiar faces?

Kayla Pedersen: It was great. A lot of my club and high school teammates showed up and they were all cheering for Stanford among the ASU crowd. I thought that was pretty cool.

Your family comes to many games, they were there Friday against Arizona State, and they also made the trip through the South two weeks ago. How does it feel to come back home and get to see your family?

KP: It's great. Normally my parents come to nearly all of my games, but this time I had my grandparents and some extended family in the crowd, so it was great to see them again.

Your hometown of Fountain Hills is a little outside of Phoenix. Can you tell us a little bit about your hometown and what it was like growing up there?

KP: My hometown is now officially a "town" since we got a Target there! That was pretty big news. We also have I think the fourth-largest fountain in the world, or something like that. It's pretty cool.

When did the Target go up?

KP: Probably about four years ago. It was very big news.

Before that, where did you have to do much of your shopping?

KP: We had to go to Scottsdale for the nearest mall and stuff. We still don't have a movie theater in Fountain Hills, but that's alright.

So when the Target came in, that changed everything?

KP: (laughs) Yeah, when we got Target and Starbucks, we became big.

How did you get through high school and life before that without Target or Starbucks?

How was playing basketball at Red Mountain? You had a very successful career there.

KP: It was great, the best decision I have ever made. I loved my coach, who was at Friday night's game. I made a lot of great friends, and it helped develop my game and make me as versatile as I am right now.

So being at Stanford, did it help when you were deciding on where to go to college that Stanford is in fairly close proximity to home?

KP: Well, not really. I was also looking at Duke, but it was mainly the academic and athletic reputation that Stanford has that made me choose Stanford.

So was homesickness ever a factor then when you went to Stanford? Or was it not since playing with USA Basketball helped get you used to being away from home for lengths of time?

KP: I think I was pretty used to being away from home. My parents didn't follow me to USA Basketball trips on purpose, so that I would get used to it, so it's not too bad.

So the first few months of college last year weren't that bad?

KP: Oh I definitely called my mom probably everyday, but I got through it. I called her asking "How do I do my laundry, what is washed in cold, hot?"

Now, being on the road with the team, you're rooming with Jayne Appel on this trip to Arizona, but what kind of an adjustment is it having to share a small hotel room with someone for anywhere between four to nine days at a time?

KP: We all get along really well, so whoever I'm rooming with is fine. Actually, the running joke for this trip was that Jayne and I were roommates for last year's whole L.A. fiasco (where Stanford lost to both UCLA and USC), so Tara was kind of nervous about putting us together for this first Pac-10 trip. But luckily we came out strong and got the win, so now we can be roommates again.

Who are some of the more interesting teammates to room with?

KP: Jayne is pretty crazy, as always. But everybody has their own unique thing.

When you and a roommate have a room, how is it decided who gets the bed nearest the balcony, nearest the door, etc. etc.?

KP: Basically whoever walks through the door first gets to choose, but some people have their preferences. Usually I like to sleep next to the air conditioning, to drown out any snoring.

Have you had any roommates who are early risers, or not morning people and run opposite to you?

KP: No, we all sleep in. Every single one of us.

Back to basketball, in your year and a half at Stanford, you've had one go-around of the Pac-10 locales. Besides the obvious choice of Arizona, which Pac-10 trip is your next favorite?

KP: Hmmmm, tough one. Arizona is number one, of course, because of my family, but I also like L.A. and Oregon (Eugene). I love playing at Mac Court. It's so unique and old-fashioned, and there is a lot of history there.

Including all the trips taken, which one has been your favorite?

KP: The Final Four in Tampa last year. Definitely.

On this trip, in Tucson you and the team have a rare night where you get to have dinner on your own. No practice, no team dinner.What do you usually do when you have a few good hours of free time on the road?

KP: Usually we find the nearest mall and go shopping, so that's what a lot of us will probably do after this.

Finally, the Arizona Cardinals, your home state's team, are in the playoffs this weekend. Are you going to keep tabs on the game?

KP: I wouldn't really call myself a fan. They've never been that good so I never really paid attention, but it's shocking that they're in the playoffs.